Washburn Lady Blues Weekly Notes

Warm ups . . .
The Lady Blues will look to get back into the win column this weekend as they will travel to Joplin, Mo., for the Teri (Mathis) Zenner Memorial Tournament March 3-4. The Lady Blues (1-7) dropped all five games this past weekend at the Texas Woman's Spring Fling in Denton, Texas.

Last week's action . . .
Game 1 - #8 Angelo State 13, Washburn 12 (9 innings)
The Lady Blues rallied to score five runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 10-7 lead over No. 8 Angelo State, but fell in extra inning 13-12 after pounding out 14 hits in the game.
Angelo State scored two runs in the bottom of the third to score first in the game, but Washburn took the lead in the top of the fourth with four runs all coming on a grand slam by Mallorie Monhollon scoring Lindsey Moore, Shelby Erickson and Britny Cushing.
Washburn added one more in the fifth on a home run by Alex Zordel. The Rambelles scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth and added two more in the sixth to take a 7-5 lead into the seventh inning. Monhollon then connected on her second home of the game driving in three runs helping her tie a school record with two other Lady Blues for the most RBI in a single game. Dani White had seven on March 3, 2007 against Southwestern Oklahoma and Tish Williams had seven against Park on April 26, 2007.
Angelo State scored three runs on five hits in the seventh inning to send the game into extra innings. Using the international tie breaker rule, Washburn scored a run on an RBI double to left by Moore scoring Haley Heincker. Angelo State matched the Lady Blues in the bottom of the eighth with a run sending the game to the ninth inning.
In the ninth, Washburn scored a run when Paige Hightower drove in Cushing. Angelo State scored two in the ninth to win the game.
Monhollon finished with four hits scoring two runs going 4 for 5 in the game. Erickson had three hits and Moore and Zordel each had two hits. Cushing scored three runs. Cori Munoz pitched the first four innings giving up six hits before giving away to Kayla Oldham in the fifth inning.

Game 2 - Tarleton State 15, Washburn 2 (5 innings)
Washburn allowed two runs in the bottom of the first and could not recover as the Texanns scored eight runs in the third and five more in the fourth en route to a 15-2 win called after five innings.
Washburn picked up two runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI triple by Katie Schroeder sending Mallorie Monhollon home and Haley Heincker singled to center scoring Schroeder.

Game 3 - Texas Woman's 3, Washburn 2
The Lady Blues (1-6) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third over the host school after Kayla Oldham led off the inning with a double to left and then would later score on a wild pitch. Lindsey Moore drove Katie Schroeder in with a sac fly to putting Washburn up 2-0. In the bottom of the inning TWU cut the lead to one and then would take the lead in the next inning scoring one earned and then one unearned run. The Lady Blues could get no closer the rest of the way. Alex Zordel had two hits to lead Washburn as the lady Blues stranded eight base runners in the game. Oldham took the loss in the circle striking out three scattering eight hits.

Game 4 - St. Mary's (Texas) 11, Washburn 1 (5 innings)
The Lady Blues scored a run in the first when Katie Schroeder led off the game with a single and then later scored on a single by Shelby Erickson but it would be the only run of the game for Washburn as St. Mary's scored two in the first and seven more in the second for the 11-1 win. Washburn was limited to Schroeder's single and Erickson's single in the first winning as the Lady Blues went without a hit the remainder of the game. Cori Munoz (0-1) took the loss for the Lady Blues pitching allowing five earned runs as four other scored were unearned as Washburn had five errors in the game.

Game 5 - Texas A&M International 9, Washburn 3
The Lady Blues (1-7) took a 2-0 lead after the first inning scoring a pair of unearned runs but the Dustdevils scored three runs in the second and two more in the third with a solo run in the fourth to open up a 6-2 lead. International added three more in the top of the seventh. The Lady Blues sccored one in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Kayla Olham scoring Katie Schroeder.

Upcoming opponents. . .
Lindenwood - Lindenwood enters the Joplin event with a 3-9 record having dropped its last five games. The Lady Blues have never played the Lions. The teams will also play each other in a doubleheader in St. Charles, Mo. on March 24.

Central Oklahoma - The Lady Blues lead the all-time series 13-12. The Bronchos have won the last two meetings. The Bronchos are 7-3 this season entering weekend play, but have a doubleheader on Feb. 28 against Midwestern State prior to heading to Joplin.
Washburn and UCO will face each other in a doubleheader on April 7 in Topeka.

St. Edward's - Washburn leads the all-time series 3-1 and they have not met since Washburn beat the Hilltoppers 6-1 on Feb. 20, 2009 in the South Central Shootout. St. Edward's is 6-8 this season.

St. Mary's (Texas) - The Lady Blues lead the all-time series 3-2 and the teams just met on Feb. 25 with the Rattlers taking an 11-1 win. The Rattlers are 10-7 this season.

Lady Blues player notes. . .
#1  • Britny Cushing  • UT • R/R • 5-4 • Sr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Seaman   
Has scored four runs this season driving in two.

#3  • Kristen Bell  • C • R/R • 5-8 • Fr.  • Lawrence, Kan. • Lawrence
Batting .500 this season with four hits driving in two runs scoring two runs.
 
#4  • Katie Schroeder  • 2B • L/R • 5-2 • So.  • Osage City, Kan. • Osage City
Has reached base in all eight games this season - the longest streak on the team.

#6  • Erin Macaronas  • IF • R/R • 5-5 • Jr.  • Coffeyville, Kan. • Field Kindley • Coffeyville CC
Has appeared in three games scoring a run against Southeastern Oklahoma entering the game as a pinch runner.

#7  • Kacy Covert  • OF • L/R • 5-5 • Sr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Shawnee Heights • Butler County CC
Has started all eight games collecting four hits driving in one.

#8  • Kayla Oldham  • P • R/R • 5-5 • Fr.  • Derby, Kan. • Derby
Has 13 strikeouts in five appearances this season and has collected three hits including a double.

#9  • Haley Heincker  • 2B/OF • R/R • 5-2 • Jr.  • Derby, Kan. • Derby  • Cowley County
Has a five-game hitting streak entering play at Missouri Southern - the longest current streak on the team.  

#10  • Cori Munoz  • P/3B • R/R • 5-3 • Fr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Seaman  
Has pitched in five games totalling 14 innings striking out two.  

#13  • Lindsey Moore  • IF/P • R/R • 5-7 • Sr.  • Edmond, Okla. • Edmond Memorial  
Has recorded five RBI while scoring four runs with four hits.

#14  • Mallorie Monhollon  • UT • B/R • 5-8 • Fr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Shawnee Heights   
Tied a school record with 7 RBI against Angelo State with a grand slam and a 3-run homer.

#15  • Leah Garland  • 1B/3B • R/R • 5-6 • Fr.  • Osage City, Kan. • Osage City
Has not appeared in any games this season.  

#17  • Paige Hightower  • 1B/C • R/R • 6-1 • So.  • Chickasha, Okla. • Chickasha
Has appeared in two games this season.  

#22  • Shelby Erickson  • SS • R/R • 5-6 • So.  • Perry, Kan. • Perry-Lecompton  
Has five hits with four runs scored this season.

#23  • Alex Zordel  • 1B • R/R • 5-7 • Jr.  • Baldwin City, Kan. • Baldwin   
Leads the team with four multi-hit games and a team-leading 10 base hits so far this season.

Run Down. . .
The Lady Blues had 41 at bats against Angelo State, the last time the Lady Blues had 41 at bats in a game was on April 17, 2002 against Missouri Western … Mallorie Monhollon became the first Lady Blue to hit two home runs in a game since Alex Zordel who accomplished it against Eastern New Mexico on March 6, 2010, after hitting a grand slam and a three-run homer driving in seven in the game against Angelo State.

In the dugout . . .
Vanessa Becerra was named the Washburn Lady Blues head softball coach on Aug. 3, 2011 after spending four seasons at Metro State in Denver, Colo. with the final season coming as the head coach. At Washburn she is 1-7 and overall Becerra has recorded a 35-25 mark in her second year as a head coach.
In her lone season as the head coach at Metro State, Becerra led the Roadrunners the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season championship while advancing to the NCAA regional tournament for the third straight season.

Lady Blues softball history. . .
The Lady Blues are 1016-716-1 in their 43rd year of softball.

Up next . . .
On March 10, the Lady Blues will open MIAA play against Fort Hays State on the road beginning at 12 p.m.